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Human Rights and Diversity - 10/10/2006 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY COMMISSION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2006 7:00 PM, 125 EDEN PRAIRIE CENTER Office of Housing and Human Services COMMISSION MEMBERS: Melissa Barra (Vice-Chair), Linda Chung, Pam Spera, Gerry Beckmann (Commissioners Cari Maguire, Larry Piumbroeck and Jeff Strate were absent.) STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Sandra Moran, Steven Shouts, Grace Li COMMISSION STAFF: Molly Koivumaki, Staff Liaison (recorded minutes in the absence of the recording secretary) AUDIENCE: I. ROLL CALL Meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM by Melissa Barra II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved with the following changes: • The approval of the May minutes would be tabled until the November meeting. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING Beckmann requested that the June minutes be amended with the following information: (Page 2, third paragraph from the top, the italicized section is the amendment.) Gerry Beckmann suggested that on August 1, National Night Out, commission members go out and visit the different block parties. After discussion, Ms. Koivumaki will check with Mr. Neal and get back to the commission if Mr. Neal affirms this idea. Approval of the June minutes as amended was moved by Beckmann and seconded by Chung. Approval of the September minutes was moved by Chung and seconded by Spera, Beckmann abstained (Staff will check to see if the minutes can be approved if only three members voted and one abstained.) IV. NEW BUSINESS Human Rights & Diversity Commission October 10, 2006 Page 2 No new business. V. REPORTS OF STAFF A. HUMAN SERVICES REVIEW COMMITTEE (HSRC) Koivumaki reported that the Human Services Review Committee met on Monday, September 18, 2006. The Committee reviewed a map of the WIC (Women, Infants and Children—a nutrition program) clients who use the Westside Clinic Service Center in Hopkins. There are 665 WIC clients in Eden Prairie and the Committee inquired whether an Eden Prairie service center could be available, especially since transportation to Hopkins can be difficult for WIC clients. Koivumaki was directed by the Commission to contact the WIC program and request that a representative from that program come and address the Commission at a future date. B. BIAS CRIME ACTIVITY STATUS Koivumaki reported that one incident took place since the last HRDC meeting. A high school student at the International School, who is Jewish,received a voicemail message stating "all Jews will die." The police department investigated the incident and reported that the neither the victim, nor the school received any further messages. The police reported the call could not be traced. The victim, who was cooperative with the police, did not feel threatened. Additional reports from staff: Koivumaki passed along information from Judy Reinehr, who is the area representative from the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions, about an event happening on October 23, at the Hopkins City Hall: Agenda: Viewing of the newly released DVD from Youth for Human Rights International, Presentation of this DVD to the Eden Prairie Representative, a panel discussion from people who were in the Middle East this summer in Palestine, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt. Koivumaki distributed a brochure for 23rd Annual Human Rights Day Conference which will be held on December 1, at the St. Paul RiverCenter. The registration fee is $150. Koivumaki will inquire whether the City will pay the registration fee for Commissioners. V. OLD BUSINESS No old business. VI. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS Human Rights & Diversity Commission October 10, 2006 Page 3 A. SOUTH HENNEPIN IMMIGRANT SERVICES GROUP (SHISG) Beckmann reported the following information: (Beckmann gave the report verbally and provided Koivumaki with her written notes from the meeting.) Speaker: Mr. Saeed Fahia, Executive Director of the Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota. There office is at the Brian Coyle Community Center, 420 15"'Avenue South, Mpls, MN. They have seven programs: 1. Youth Services 2. Refuge Social Services 3. Employment Services 4. Education and Outreach Services 5. Capacity Building 6. East African Women's Center 7. Tobacco Cessation Services They have 10 staff people. They are supported by a number of agencies and a couple of churches. Their mission statement is to strengthen Somali people's capacity to become contributing members of society while they preserve their culture. SHAPE: Reported starting Citizenship classes at the Eden Prairie Education Center, October 9 —November 13. Workforce Center: Reported great success with Metal Fab. 160 people got jobs starting at$13.50 an hour. These jobs progress to $40,000. Transportation is a problem for some of these people. Family Ed Center is working on preschool testing. Transportation has also been a problem for some of these parents. Khadra (Duale) reported at the September meeting that she was going to work on a census of Eden Prairie to determine the number of Somali people living in Eden Prairie. Eden Prairie Library: Is starting a free tutoring program, 6:30— 8:30 pm, every Tuesday and Thursday. They need more volunteers. (Note: More information about this program was given later in the meeting by Student Commissioner Grace Li.) Beckmann reported that in September she had asked the WIC representative for the number of Eden Prairie people receiving WIC, and why they couldn't do a distribution from Eden Prairie as transportation is a problem in Eden Prairie. Buses do not go north and south. PROP food shelf had the largest percentage of Human Rights & Diversity Commission October 10, 2006 Page 4 increase (in food shelf use), way more that ICA. A map was sent to the group. It seems Eden Prairie has a large number of WIC clients. Beckmann inquired whether the Commission was interested in pursuing this need. (Note: Because Koivumaki presented information on this same topic under V.A HRSC, Beckmann gave her comments about the WIC program during that part of the meeting.) B. ANY COMMISSION MEMBER MAY REPORT Moran reported that she is now a Student Member of the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce. There are 20 students who have this membership. Moran will participate on the Education Committee, the Women's Networking Group and the Business Committee. Li reported on a new tutoring program that the Eden Prairie High School National Honor Society and the Eden Prairie Library are sponsoring. Tutoring will take place at the Eden Prairie Library, from 6:30— 8:30 pm, every Tuesday and Thursday, beginning October 3, 2006. Spera reported on attending the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions 35"'Annual Conference, which was held on Saturday, September 30, 2006. Spera reported the theme of the conference was "The Human Rights Challenge of Immigration." Presenters Included: Velma Korbel, MN Human Rights Commissioner State Senator John Marty Hopkins Police Officer Mayor of St. Louis Park Spera reported that in St. Louis Park, "forum-style activities" are held to provide a way for residents to speak with members of the Police Department. St. Louis Park also uses their local cable television channel for a program where Council members interview ESL students. Koivumaki was directed to check with the City of Eden Prairie Communications Manager to find out if the Commission can do a similar kind of cable television program. VII. FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS November 14, 2006, at 7:00 pm at the Office of Housing & Human Services. VIII. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.